Conversion with an upgrade for @pitbulls_and_poledancing took a simple double to a stellar triple! On my strong yet slimmer staves, they are even lighter than before even with the newly added top row. Flutter on!
Upgrade
Category: Conversion/upgrade
Phaedra Refresh
In #Chicago, @phaedrablack was an early adopter of my DIY stave kits. I was recently able to take them back and give them a refreshed, professional rebuild. They are ready again for years on the stage!
Freya Conversion
@freyawest brought over a set that wasn’t getting much use. From sad in the bag, we did a conversion to the 8″ staves to get these a bit more dense, fluffy and lighter. The color combo is just so fun!
Jean Upgrade
This color shift fluffy upgrade was done for @jean_heart5678! Assembled by @jahireen, the orginal double layer in white was already on my staves. Just adding the new top row of gold turns this set to a fluffy triple layer with a whole new look!
Tila Conversion
@tilavontwirl had amazing feathers, but heavy staves. So we gave them a fresh start! Assembled by @jahireen, we moved the feathers over from a clunky set of acrylics to my 12″ staves in almond. The set is even bigger, fluffier and lighter than before!
Catty Conversion
This is the sweet conversion done for @misscattywompass! Assembled by @jahireen, we moved the feathers over from a clunky set of acrylics to gold 12″ staves and gave the feathers a little manicure. The set looks new again and will perform better for years to come!
Bella’s Boas
Back to @bellasincle, this boa set is actually usable now! A switch to my staves can completely change and enhance your performing capabilities!
If you have a set on acrylic that lumber, a conversion to my staves can really salvage your boa investment, unlock your performance and make your fans enjoyable to work with!
Upgrade Top Row
Show ❤️ to your old fans and feathers! @misscattywompass did with this conversion and upgrade!
Taking the lower emerald and purple feathers from a set on acrylics, we added a row of fresh forest green plumes from @fancyfeathercom. Assembled on my aluminum staves, these are bigger, lighter and more durable for years on the stage.
Upgrade Tops
Really enjoyed doing this set for @sallybdash!
Sally had inherited a double layer set from a special friend and wanted to get them refurbished to be able to take them back to the stage in their honor. The feathers weren’t perfect and the dye sun faded in places, but still good shape. We popped off the feathers, added a new for of fresh plumes, had the whole batch redyed at @fancyfeathercom and mounted on my higher quality staves. These are ready again for the stage!
Refurbish Boa
Another past project — refurbish + conversion — done for @madelinesinclaire!
This set has new life for years on the stage! Starting with an old set of pink, well loved ostrich and marabou boas, we were able to pop them off and send them back to @fancyfeathercom for a wash and stunning ombre dye. These were then mounted on 24 of my 20″ staves. I at first wasn’t confident these would turn out as good as they did, but goes to show quality feathers are always worth a second chance!
Denim Refurbish
Refurbished set with lovely large plumes! Blue is a little brighter in person, lots of depth and variation in the dye. Really makes them look like denim! Set is a double layer across 14 12″ staves.
Upgrade Top Row
Another conversion and upgrade success story done for @missmarinaelaine. We were able to salvage feathers from her previous set and add a fresh row of large top row plumes. These beauties never looked better!
Flirt Conversion
This was a fun conversion and color change for @boobsradleybq! The set was originally white on acrylic staves. After getting the feathers off, @fancyfeathercom dyed them to gun metal. A little investment can help you get a set of fans used infrequently back to a set you truly enjoy.
Gold Upgrade
How amazing this golden upgrade for @auroramaur_dances turned out even surprised me!
First, the front and inside feathers of this set (which were a dark mustard-topaz) were salvaged from a glued bamboo and fabric structure. Starting with a lot of little drabs and about a row’s worth of wing feathers, we sent them over to @fancyfeathercom for a wash, added a fresh top row of plumes and dyed the entire batch together in their vintage gold. I have no idea what dye wizardry was used, but the new color achieved on the salvaged feathers exceeded all of my expectations! The build for each fan uses 13 12″ staves with an accent stave on the front that is ready to be rhinestoned and really pop!
Red Conversion
A red hot conversion for @msgidgetbardot!
Not only was I able to meet Gidget while in Nashville (btw… some of the best kept fans I’ve seen over all the years of doing conversions and upgrades), I enjoyed the insider scoop of how unique the scene and venues are!
A straight forward project for lighter lift and more condensed fluff, we just moved the front layer drabs and double plume over to a 24 count set 12″ in ruby red.
Conversion upgrade
A little cream in your coffee? Ariel Helvetica will add the sugar!
I have new favorites all the time and adding this conversion and upgrade to the list! Starting with a set of hot fans, we moved the feathers to 28 14″ staves in copper jacket adding a full row and a half of custom ombre premium plumes from Rainbow Feathers.
The results are delicious!
Conversion upgrade
I took over from Dirty Little Flirt on this conversion/upgrade!
The DIY kits are a great option if you are super crafty with wire (like from jewelery arts) or other small detailed work, but also have a great amount of patience for laying out large patterns. This set upgrade had a lot going on which can be overwhelming too… fresh top layer plumes and drabs, but smaller plumes from a previous set. It was all a little much when the stave kit arrived, but no worries! I’m always willing to take it all back and complete the build.
So if you have a kit tucked away in a closet, let me know. No shame in trying!
Pink conversion
A blast of pink fun done for Katana!
We said goodbye to the awful, oversized, heavy and brittle hot fans staves and converted these to 24 12″ staves in pretty pink. To upgrade, we added a top row of 25″+ custom dyed Rainbow Feathers plumes. Bright, light and with an easier hand hold, this type of upgrade is well worth the investment!
Flirt conversion
Cutie flirty flirt conversion done for Sally Marvel.
She had enough small wing feathers — more durable and have the same feather texture as plumes, but are shorter with a more narrow shape — to do a double layer across 24 staves. Using the 8″, the set is pretty compact and dense. But this is a great set for small spaces, crowd work or just a flirty bit.
Teal ombre
A refurbish and conversion gave these boas a whole new look.
Originally from @fancyfeathercom, the 24 ostrich and marbou boas were redyed by Fancy Feather and then mounted using a wrap assembly on 24 of my 20″ staves in a new blue green color.
A lighter lift and more compact, these fans float easier and look fuller.
Double conversion
Seeing double? There are two fan conversions in this post! XX sent over the first one and then the second one about a month later to ensure they always had a set available for their performances.
We moved the feathers over to a 24 set of 12″ staves in almond and added a fresh top row of a set of plumes in white from Fancy Feather.
Other cool news, both sets fit into one of my large cases!
Topaz conversion
I met Anadelia at the fan workshop (hosted by Miss Isabelle Marie) and was able to take her fans home with me for her conversion!
These moved over from Hot Fans staves which are big, heavy, bulky and not built for performance. The feathers are now on a set of my 8″ staves in gold bar. This cute flirt set is ready again for the stage!
If you’re converting from Hot Fans, keep in mind the limitations of the feathers. It’s great that they don’t glue, but the feathers are cut to a rounded shape. Usually our only option is to move the feathers to a flirt size set or use them as a front row and add a fresh top row.
Silver conversion
The first set to ship in 2022 is this conversion for Angelica Lavalier which couldn’t be a more fitting start to the new year!
If you have feather fans on staves that have broken, hinder your performance or need a refresh, consider a conversion. Breaking up with acrylic can be the right step to take to salvage your beautiful feathers and advance your capabilities.
Sassy Conversion
Ready to hit the stage again! This set was a standard conversion (just moving feathers over from acrylics to my aluminum staves) done for Sassy von Straddler. Helps that her feathers are really high quality!
Swapped to 24 12″ staves in traffic orange, this set is now lighter, more compact, less damaging to the feathers and bigger (taller all around and more bounce separation between the top and inner back layer). These will be show stoppers for many years to come!
Mint rebuild
Ruby Spencer was an early adopter of my staves having purchased and built on the raw, spray painted versions years ago. I refreshed her set by stripping the paint, powder coating and reassembling in a way that layers the feathers in a better way. They are stage ready again!
Michelle’s Boa Fans
Sally Rand is forever embedded in the iconography of #Chicago. Her fans helped save a World’s Fair and attract millions to our city.
For that reason, it should be no surprise that it was here that Michelle L’amour worked with Fancy Feather to redevelop burlesque fans. Michelle’s Claire de Lune tribute act became one of her most favorite numbers and forever linked her to our fan dancing legacy.
Many years later, my adventures with fan staves also began in Chicago. This spooky weekend, let’s believe that I was visited by the same spirit that inspired Michelle. It was a bit frightening, but a huge honor to convert her from acrylics to my metal staves. Special thanks to Rainbow Feathers for giving them a gentle wash and fluff.
Now on stronger, lighter staves, these boa fans will continue their journey from stage to stage with their most exquisite boa tamer, Michelle L’amour.
Peach conversion
Just a little conversion for Bizzy LeBois. We swapped the acrylic staves for a set of my 24″ aluminum staves. For a lighter lift and ability to tighten with no risk of cracking, consider a conversion for your exquisite boas.
Deco upgrade
Classic deco for Lexxi Shackels. Surprise, this was an upgrade!
Working with her existing white and ivory feathers from an acrylic set, we took those off, added 12 new white plumes and then remounted everything onto the double deco middle and single decos (in Gold Bar Gold) and 4 14″ staves (in white).
Psychedelic baubles
Gigi Bonbon was an exceptional client!!! She came with a concept and the luxury of time. She had the cream front feathers and tip dyed inside feathers. Once we set the stave design, we finalized the rest of the color palette. Using Cricut vinyl, Rainbow Feathers then dyed the top row pink to gold tip feathers to match. The staves were powder coated in a cream, all the bauble circles cut on my Cricut Maker, placed before a final blast with clear spray paint to lock them in and then assembled. The fans collapse to the center and are on a short bolt to keep the feather fluff as back as possible.
This process took 5 months. And when I put it into text, it makes sense. Amazing takes so much… planning, brain, logistics, building… time. These are definitely one of the most stellar fan designs I’ve done. I couldn’t be more thrilled with the result!!
Boa Conversion
Just a little conversion for Sucre à la Crème. She went with gold bar gold 24″ boa staves to replace her existing acrylic. Hopefully they offer a better experience for a lighter lift of these exquisite boas!
Upgrade for Ms. B LaRose
This elegant set uses 14 12″ staves for each. We upcycled the white drabs from her previous set and added two fresh layers of beige plumes from Fancy Feather. They are ready again to hit the stage.
Handfan for Aerial
This beautifully flirty prop is great for photos and performance, but also a fun design to toss on as a wristlet accessory for a truly extra night out! Available bow style with Swarovski rhinestones from Rhinestones Unlimited and mega fluff plumes custom ombre dyed at Rainbow Feathers
Upgrade for Vauxdevil
We sent a full set of her existing feathers down to Rainbow Feathers to get washed and a color picked that would dye up well over their existing color. Luckily we were able to get the vibrant ruby. Paired with a new top row of light pink, these really pack a sweet punch!
Conversion for Whiskey Jules
On 24 of the 12″ staves in burgundy bliss, this set features a top plume and front drab from Fancy Feather. There were a few plumes remaining, so I added them to the inside.
Upgrade to 14″ staves
Conversion from Hot Fans.
28 14″ staves in white with an added row of new plumes from Fancy Feather.
Done for Katie James.
